USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 18
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 18
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In the year 1883 Mr. Haven was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Jones and to them were born two sons, George B. and Norman Allen, Jr. The son George B. was married in 1914 to Miss Ruth Dykeman and they have two children, June Marie and Leonora Esther. The other son is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
The death of Norman Allen Haven was a matter of deep and widespread regret not only to his immediate family but to all who knew him. He passed away at his home in Forest City township, Howard county, May 23, 1911, and was laid to rest in Pleasant Hill cemetery three days later. He was a man of upright character and of strong convictions, to which he was always true and loyal. His sterling worth was recognized by all with whom he came in contact. In politics he was a republican but never sought or desired office as a reward for party fealty. He gave loyal support, however, to measures and movements which he believed would prove of worth to the county and the commonwealth and in matters of citizenship his aid and influence were always on the side of improvement.
ALBERT J. MIKESH.
Albert J. Mikesh, a merchant of Protivin, who for two years has conducted one of the excellent stores of the town, was born in Spillville, Iowa, April 22, 1869. His father, John W. Mikesh, was a native of Bohemia and came to the United States when twelve years of age. He made his way to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand for a few years, during which time he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase land. He became the owner of a farm at Spillville and continued its cultivation and improvement to the time of his death, which occurred in 1914. He erected all of the buildings upon the place and converted it into a modern farm, equipped with all the improvements and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. His first purchase made him owner of forty acres of land, to which he grad- ually added as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of one hundred and ninety acres. He married Frances Janoush, a daughter of John Janoush, of Spill- ville, and passed away in 1914, at the age of seventy-two years, on the old home farm, which he had so long owned and occupied. He had filled the office of road supervisor for a number of years and was interested in the welfare, upbuilding and progress of the community. But a young lad when brought to America, he supplemented his edu- cation, acquired in Bohemia, by attending the public schools of Winneshiek county. When the country needed his aid in the preservation of the Union he joined the army of the north and was wounded in battle but entirely recovered and throughout his remaining days he displayed the same loyalty to his adopted land that he manifested when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battlefields of the south. At the time of the father's death his son, Louis Mikesh, took over the farm and has since continued its cultivation.
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Albert J. Mikesh was reared on the old homestead and worked with his father on the farm to the age of seventeen years, when he took up carpentering, devoting his energies to that trade for twenty years and thus being identified with many important building operations in the county. On the expiration of that period he established a general store at Protivin and now has an excellent store, which he has been success- fully conducting for twenty-six years. He carries a large and well selected line of goods and his enterprising methods, his reliability and his earnest desire to please his patrons have been potent elements in his continued success.
When twenty-five years of age Albert J. Mikesh married Miss Mamie Novak, a daughter of Tom and Verona Novak, of Spillville, and they have become the parents of three children: Nellie, the wife of Ben Bouska, of Schley; and Edith and Leo, at home. The family attend the Catholic church at Protivin.
Mr. Mikesh gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is a repre- sentative of one of the old pioneer families of Iowa and his entire life, covering a period of fifty years, has been passed within this state, so that he has been a witness of much of the growth and development of this section of the country. At all times he has borne his part in the work of general progress and improvement and is re- garded as one of the substantial citizens of Protivin.
G. H. MILLENBAUGH, D. O.
Dr. G. H. Millenbaugh is a well known osteopath of New Hampton, where he has successfully practiced his profession since 1916. He was born in Putnam county, Ohio, on the 27th of June, 1891, a son of Joseph and Anna (Yocklin) Millenbaugh, the latter a native of Germany, while the former was born in Ohio of German parentage. Dr. Millenbaugh attended the common schools of his native county in the acquirement of an education and in 1913 entered upon preparation for his chosen life work as a student in the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1916. He then located at New Hampton, where he has continued throughout the intervening period of three years and where he has built up an extensive and gratifying practice that is steadily growing as his skill is becoming more and more widely recognized.
Dr. Millenbaugh is a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic church and also belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He is popular in both professional and social circles of the community in which he makes his home and has already gained an enviable meas- ure of success for one of his years.
G. M. SPENCER.
A well known representative of business enterprise in Chester is G. M. Spencer, who is conducting a general contracting business. He was born in the state of New York, March 7, 1875, a son of Ransom and Anna (Fox) Spencer, who were born, reared and married in the Empire state. In 1876 they removed westward to Iowa and took up their abode upon a rented farm near Lime Springs in Howard county. The father there engaged in cultivating the soil for eleven years and in 1887 removed to Chester, where he has since made his home and is now living retired from active business, enjoying well earned rest.
G. M. Spencer was an infant of but a year when his parents came to Howard county, so that practically his entire life has been passed here. He acquainted him- self with the elementary branches of learning as a pupil in the district school near his father's home and later he attended the public schools of Chester. As early as his fifteenth year he took up the work of carpentering, possessing natural mechanical skill and ingenuity, so that he took readily to the use of tools. It was but a compara- tively short time until he was a master carpenter, and by the time he reached his
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eighteenth year he was bidding on building contracts. From that date to the present he has been a dominant factor in the building operations of Howard county. Many large contracts have been awarded him and his work has always been of an important character. He has built the greater number of the business blocks as well as of the better residences in Chester and has long employed a force of competent workmen in the prosecution of his tasks.
Mr. Spencer was married in 1896 to Miss Nona McDowell, of Osterdock, Iowa, and to them have been born two sons and a daughter: Otto, who is in the United States marine service, stationed at Paris Island, South Carolina; and Marion and Eva, both at home.
Mr. Spencer votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to Chester Lodge, No. 444, I. O. O. F., and to the Modern Woodmen of America and is loyal to the teachings and purposes of those organizations. The major part of his time and attention, how- ever, is concentrated upon his business affairs and it has been by reason of his close application and determined effort that he has gained a place among the most sub- stantial citizens of Howard county. He is now the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Pennington county, Minnesota, while in Chester he is controlling a business of substantial and gratifying proportions.
WILLIAM W. DUNCAN.
William W. Duncan is now living retired in Colwell, Floyd county, but for many years was actively identified with farming in Deerfield township and was classed among the representative and influential residents of Chickasaw county. He was born in Blackhawk county, Iowa, August 27, 1857, a son of Robert and Margaret (Walker) Duncan, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of their son, Robert A. Duncan.
William W. Duncan, after mastering the branches of learning taught in the dis- trict schools, concentrated his efforts and attention upon farm work. Following his father's death in 1870 he remained upon the home farm, which he cultivated in con- nection with his brothers up to the time of his marriage. He then began farming on his own account, renting the Perry Curtis property on section 32, Deerfield town- ship, and for seven years he resided upon that place. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase land. It was in 1888 that he bought two hundred and thirty acres on section 5, Deerfield township, and thereon he lived for thirty-one years or until the summer of 1919, when he retired and removed to Colwell, where he now makes his home. His present land holdings comprise two hundred and ninety-six acres, constituting a rich and valuable farm from which he annually de- rives a substantial income. Year after year he worked diligently in the develop- ment of his fields and the large crops which he gathered enabled him to gain a most substantial competence.
In 1880 Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Nettie Clark, of Floyd county, Iowa, and they have become the parents of five children: Robert Ray, who follows farm- ing in Deerfield township, Chickasaw county; Nellie M., the wife of M. J. Dickson, an agriculturist of Deerfield township; James Hugh, at home; William Earl, who is deceased; and Nettie Marie, who is the wife of J. T. Easterly, of Colwell, Iowa.
Mr. Duncan is now a stockholder in the Colwell Grain Exchange. Fraternally he is connected with Charles City Lodge, No. 165, I. O. O. F., and his political alle- giance is given to the republican party. He has filled the office of road supervisor and has done active work in behalf of the cause of education as a member of the school board during several years' service in that office. He is now a member of the board of directors of the Colwell consolidated schools and he is in hearty sympathy with every plan and project to advance the educational interests of the community. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and his life has
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ever been an upright and honorable one, commending him to the confidence and good will of all. The most envious cannot grudge him his success, so honorably has it been won and so worthily used. He is now occupying a pleasant home in Colwell, enjoying not only the necessities and comforts of life but many of its luxuries as well.
WILLIAM B. GARDNER.
William B. Gardner, a lifelong resident of Iowa, is now carrying on general agri- cultural pursuits on section 29, Howard township, in Howard county. He was born in Deerfield township, Chickasaw county, July 23, 1878, and is a son of William and Mary (Brokamp) Gardner, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was born in Cumberland, Maryland, and her parents came to this country from Germany. Wil- liam Gardner crossed the Atlantic in his childhood days with his father and mother and became a resident of Iowa. He was married in Festina, Winneshiek county, this state, and immediately afterward he and his wife began their domestic life upon a farm in Deerfield township, Chickasaw county, where they resided for many years. There the father passed away in 1907, but the mother survives and yet occupies the old homestead.
William B. Gardner attended the Normal & Commercial College of New Hamp- ton and the Highland Park College of Des Moines, Iowa. Following his graduation from the latter institution as a member of the class of 1906 he returned to the old homestead and began farming on his own account, purchasing eighty acres of his present place from his father. This was a tract of wild prairie land upon which not a furrow had been turned for an improvement made. He erected farm buildings and began the further development of the property and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting one of the splendidly improved farms of Howard township. There are good buildings upon it and the place is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences. He uses the latest improved machinery to pro- mote' the work of the fields and annually gathers large crops as the reward of his labors.
In 1907 Mr. Gardner was married to Miss Mayme Butler, of Dyersville, who is a graduate of St. Francis Academy of Dyersville of the class of 1895 and who for nine years was engaged in educational work prior to her marriage. She has become the mother of six children, five of whom are living, namely: Linus J., Frank W., Joseph C., John P. and Marcella E. Marie Z. was killed by an automobile at the age of six years.
In politics Mr. Gardner is a democrat and in religious faith he and his family are Catholics. Political honors and emoluments, however, have no attraction for him as he has always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and aside from farming he is a stockholder in the Elma Cooperative Creamery Company, of which he is the president, and a stockholder in the Howard County Equity Cooperative Association of Elma. His interests are therefore broad and varied, mak- ing him a leading and representative business man of Howard county.
JAMES PRASKA.
James Praska, who is carrying on general farming on section 34, Paris township, is a native son of Howard county, his birth having here occurred on the 20th of July, 1895. He is a son of Frank Praska, who was born in Bohemia and who came to the United States when a youth of eighteen years. Crossing the Atlantic, he made his way direct to Howard county and for several years was employed as a farm hand. When about twenty-five years of age he invested his earnings in a tract of farm land. which he sold a few years later. About nineteen years ago he purchased the present home farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land.
James Praska was reared in the usual manner of the farm-bred boy. He at-
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tended the district schools and in vacation periods worked in the fields, early becom- ing familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He continued to assist his father in the further development of the home place until twenty-two years of age, when he took over the home farm, which he has since culti- vated, bringing the fields under a high state of development and adding many modern improvements to the farm as the years have passed on. He rotates his crops and keeps the soil in good condition and annually gathers good harvests.
On the 29th of October, 1918, Mr. Praska was married to Miss Celia Panoch, of Howard county, a daughter of Frank and Barbara Panoch, farming people of this section of the state. Mr. Praska and his wife are members of the Catholic church at Protivin. He votes with the democratic party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is yet a young man but already has made for himself a creditable position in agricultural circles and the qualities that he has displayed argue well for a successful future.
CHARLES L. PECINOVSKY.
Charles L. Pecinovsky, who is engaged in farming on section 23, New Oregon town- ship, Howard county, was born on the old homestead farm just north of Protivin on the 1st of March, 1888, and is a son of Joseph F. Pecinovsky, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He obtained his education in the public schools of Protivin and of Cresco, the period of his youth being largely devoted to the mastery of the branches of learning constituting the curriculum of the public schools in those places. On the 29th of October, 1912, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Berka, of New Oregon township. Howard county, a daughter of James Berka. who was also a native of Howard county and a son of Joseph Berka, who was one of the pioneer settlers of this section of the state, com- ing to Iowa from Bohemia in pioneer times.
In the spring following his marriage Mr. Pecinovsky began farming on his own account on the land which he now owns but which then belonged to his father In 1915 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead and has since given his attention to its further development and improvement. He has brought this land under a high state of cultivation so that he annually harvests good crops. The farm presents a most neat and thrifty appearance, indicative of the careful supervision and the prac- tical and progressive methods of the owner.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pecinovsky have been born three children, two sons and a daughter: William L., Anna S. and James. The parents are members of the Catholic church and in his political views Mr. Pecinovsky is a republican, having always supported the men and measures of the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is one of the successful farmers of the district who never stops short of the successful accom- plishment of his purpose if his object can be won through earnest and honorable effort.
NELS LARSON.
Nels Larson, now one of the well-to-do farmers of Howard county, living on section 5, Howard township, arrived in Iowa with but fifty cents in his pocket. Thus empty-handed he started out in the business world, employed at farm labor, and through the intervening period his steady progress has brought him to the front as one of the substantial agriculturists of northern Iowa.
He was born in Denmark, November 6, 1848, a son of Lars and Johanna (Tom- person) Larson, who spent their entire lives in Denmark. The son was reared in his native land and acquired a common school education there. The favorable reports which he heard concerning the opportunities of the new world led him to the determination to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic and in 1870 he bade adieu to friends and native country and came to the United States, being then a
NELS LARSON AND FAMILY
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young man of twenty-two years. He arrived in Cresco, Iowa, with fifty cents as his sole capital and began work on a farm, being employed through that summer at a wage of twenty dollars per month. During the winter months he worked for ten dollars per month and for five years remained in the employ of others. He was desirous, however, of engaging in business on his own account and utilized every means possible to promote that end, carefully saving his earnings until he felt justi- fied in starting out independently. In 1875 he began farming as a renter and con- tinued to cultivate leased land for eleven years. He practiced strict economy during that period and at the end of that time purchased eighty acres of his present farm, which now comprises one hundred and ninety acres of rich and arable land. His progress is the direct result of hard and unremitting toil. He has worked per- sistently as the years have passed, making good use of his time and opportunities, and he certainly deserves much credit for the success to which he has attained.
In 1875 Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Louisa Johnson, a native of Sweden, by whom he has three children, namely: Rosalie, the wife of Frank Inward, of Ottertail county, Minnesota; Orvilla, who is the wife of Fred Inward, of Riceville, Iowa; and Elmer, who married Rosabelle Inward and is operating the home farm. Two other children of the family have passed away.
In politics Mr. Larson is a republican and has served for several years as road boss. He and his family are of the Lutheran faith and guide their lives by the teachings of the church. Mr. Larson is a man of many splendid traits of character. He has not only been progressive but also thoroughly reliable in his business affairs and his life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished through individual effort and determination.
F. J. CONLEY.
For seven years F. J. Conley has been engaged in the practice of law at New Hampton and previous to that time was identified with educational interests in this state. He is a native son of Chickasaw county, his birth having occurred in Chicka saw township, January 17, 1879, his parents being Michael and Margery (McGettigan) Conley, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in Chickasaw county, representing one of its old pioneer families. In his boyhood days the father came with his parents to Iowa, settling in the county where he still lives. He yet occupies the old family homestead in Chickasaw township which for many years has been his place of abode.
F. J. Conley completed his public school education by graduation from the high school of Ionia with the class of 1887. He afterward attended the Iowa State Teach. ers College and then took up the profession of teaching, with which he was identified for seven years. He made steady progress in that field and was superintendent of the schools of Lawler for two years, while for five years he served as county superintend- ent of schools of Chickasaw county. It was his desire, however, to become a member of the bar and he entered the St. Paul College of Law, from which institution he re- ceived his degree of LL. B. in the class of 1912. He was then admitted to practice at the Iowa State bar in October of that year and opened a law office in New Hampton, where he has since built up an extensive practice, in the conduct of which he is very successful. The thoroughness with which he studies, investigates and prepares his cases, combined with his clear and concise presentation of his cause, has constituted a most potent element in the attainment of his success. In 1914 he was a candidate for the office of county attorney and again in 1918 but was defeated by a small majority on both occasions.
On the 17th of October, 1904, Mr. Conley was married to Miss Jensena Rose Larson, of Lawler, Iowa, and to them have been born six children, of whom four are living: Eileen Agnes, Mary Gertrude, Margaret and Frances.
Mr. and Mrs. Conley are members of the Catholic church and he is identified also with the Knights of Columbus. His time and energies are chiefly devoted to his pro-
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fessional interests and in a calling where advancement depends entirely upon indi- vidual merit and ability he is making steady progress. During the World war he ac tively participated in the speaking campaigns for Liberty loans, the Y. M. C. A. and other war service.
JOHN FISCHBACH.
Jolın Fischbach is the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, Chickasaw township, Chickasaw county, which he purchased in 1905 and which he has since owned and occupied. He was born in Germany, October 2, 1860, a son of Nick and Gertrude (Wagner) Fischbach, both of whom died in Germany.
John Fischbach spent the first twenty-eighth years of his life in his native country and acquired a public school education there. He crossed the Atlantic in 1888 and first made his way to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Becker. a daughter of Christoph and Elizabeth (Molitor) Becker, who were also of German birth and remained residents of their native land until called to their final rest.
Following his marriage. Mr. Fischbach worked on the roads at La Crosse, Wiscon- sin, for six years and then, hoping to find better business opportunities and conditions elsewhere, he removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and for seven years resided upon a rented farm in Chickasaw township. He afterward spent three years upon another farm which he leased and all through this period of a decade he was carefully saving his earnings and utilizing his opportunities in the hope of ultimately becoming the owner of a farm. The year 1905 saw the realization of his dreams in the purchase of eighty acres of the one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, Chickasaw township, constituting his present home property. In the intervening period of fourteen years he has bent every effort to the development and improvement of his farm and has converted it into an excellent place that annually returns to him a gratifying income. He has also become a stockholder in the Ionia Farmers' Creamery Association.
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